We’re a bit late on this, but it would be a shame if we fail to mention this great achievement by one of our neighbors.

Congratulations to West Philly’s Jacob Soll for receiving the MacArthur award, sometimes called the ‘genius award.’ Soll, a history professor at Rutgers University-Camden, is among this year’s 22 recipients of the prestigious award, which recognizes “exceptional merit and promise for continued and enhanced creative work.” The award includes a $500,000 grant that the recipients will get “no-strings-attached” over the next five years.

Newsworks.org has a great interview with him on this page.

St. Francis de Sales (47th & Windsor) is organizing a flea market tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There will also be a sidewalk sale at the corner of 43rd and Osage from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bargains, lots of useful stuff, and… free cookies! See the flyers below for more information.

Here’s something to watch out for. Neighbor Ayse, who lives on 45th Street between Spruce and Locust, is reporting some theft in her area:

“There was some minor theft that happened here over the past twoish days, and I just wanted to give people a heads up that there might be someone checking for unlocked doors and pilfering packages. I had a FedEx package stolen that was in the foyer between the front door and the apartment door (the front door was unlocked, but closed). My roommate also had a package delivered that was ripped open, but the contents were still there. The downstairs tenants had a cell phone and digital camera stolen from inside the apartment – small, potentially not immediately noticed. We reported the stolen package and stolen tech items to the police, but it’s unlikely they’ll find them since they’re disposable/ so small. But we wanted to let the police know in case it keeps happening. And we realize that it’s not the greatest idea leaving our front door open, but that aside, we wanted to give people a heads up to lock their doors and pay attention to packages.”

It always seemed too good to be true. The experiment in buying wine at special kiosks in grocery stores around the state, including one at the Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut, is over.

The Pronto Wine Kiosk program which included around 100 kiosks across various Pennsylvania locations is being shut down due to some monetary disputes between the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) that runs the kiosks and the machine supplier, a Conshohocken-based company Simple Brands L.L.C. The PLCB claims to not have been reimbursed by Simple Brands for over $1 million in expenses it incurred from the kiosks wiring and stocking. Simple Brands were supposed to supply the machines at no cost to PLCB, while sharing the profits.

The kiosks had all kinds of age verification technology and even a built-in Breathalyzer (important for the one at 40th and Walnut streets, which is surrounded by students). But customers often said the kiosks were difficult to operate.

Penn’s student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian reports that the Fresh Grocer has expressed disappointment over the kiosk closing. It quotes Carly Spross, the Fresh Grocer Marketing Director, who said that this service brought “convenience” to the Fresh Grocer’s customers and “helped bring in additional foot traffic to our stores.”

West Philly resident Wendell Pritchett, an urban historian and former aid to Mayor Michael Nutter, has been appointed to the School Reform Commission, the body that oversees the administration of Philadelphia’s public schools.

Pritchett, who is chancellor of Rutgers University-Camden, will fill one of the two Commission openings left vacant by the recent departures of chair Robert Archie and member Johnny Irizarry. The quick appointment of Pritchett gives the commission the necessary quorum of three. Other members include Denise McGregor Armbrister, whose term expires in January, and Joseph Dworetzky, who commutes to SRC meetings from the West Coast.

Pritchett, a familiar face at youth baseball games and the University City Swim Club, is a close Nutter ally and served as the Mayor’s deputy chief of staff and director of policy. He taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law from 2001-2009 and was the school’s associate dean from 2006-2008.

Pritchett will jump right into the new post. One key issue the commission will face in the next couple of months is the looming closure of several schools in the city.

Our readers Zem and Jakey, who live at 49th and Springfield, found these adorable kittens in the hurricane and are trying to adopt them out.

“Once poor bedraggled kittens, these four little boys have become incredibly playful and snugglable. They will bound about, chasing and pouncing on one another and on their toys, and then, collapse in a purring kitten pile. They love being held and will sit on your shoulders if you let them. They are extremely social and get along well together, adopt them in pairs, or on their own. They want your love!”

If you are interested please email Zem at: arrangingtapestry [at] gmail.com